Capital Cities
The PlacesWith over 33 Dynasties spanning more than 3,000 years of history, the Capitals
of Egypt often reflect the Rulers of that ancient time period
Abydos
The First Cult Centre: in use from Pre-Dynastic Period, through 1st to 30th Dynasty. Including the Temple of Pharaoh Seti I with the King’s List and Helicopter Hieroglyphs.
Alexandria
Alexander the Great conceived the second city in Egypt. Looking at it’s infamous Library, one of 7 wonders of the ancient world in the Lighthouse, through to the last Egyptian Pharaoh, Cleopatra.
Amarna
Meet Pharaoh Akhenaten and his Chief Royal Wife Nefertiti. See where the infamous Tutankhamun grew up.
Avaris
“The Great House” of the Hyksos. But was this the first suc cessful foreign takeover of Egypt?
Cairo
The City of a Thousand Minarets. From the Romans to the Muslims, Fatimids to Saladin, Mamluks to the Ottomans, and on to the Modern Era
Djedet-Mendes
“The Domain of the Ram Lord of Djedet”, previously the Capital of the Lower Egyptian Nome of Kha, Nome 16 and in use very early in the Pharaonic period of Egypt, through to the Greek period
Het Nesut-Herakleopolis Magna
Capital City of Lower Egypt during the First Intermediate Period as the new Pharaohs of Lower Egypt were born here
Itjtawy
Capital during the Middle Kingdom and remained the Capital for approx. 285 years. Founded by Pharaoh Amenemhat I, a former Vizier who consolidated Egypt’s unity
Memphis
The White Walls: Capital during the Old Kingdom Period. Founded in approx. 3,100BC and remained the Capital for 8 continuous Dynasties. Cult Centre for God Ptah, Goddess Sekhmet and their son, God Nefertem
Pi-Ramses
The House of Ramses or Great of Victories; Capital City of Egypt for Pharaoh Ramses II in the New Kingdom Period. Pharaoh seems to have moved the Capital City here for political and defensive reasons
Sebennytos
The “City of the Sacred Calf”, the Capital of Lower Egypt’s 12th Nome, became capital of Egypt during the 30th Dynasty – 380-343BC
Tanis
Capital of the 14th Nome of Lower Egypt. Tanis was Capital in 21st Dynasty. It became known as The Northern Thebes with the same Triad of religious deities
Zau-Sais
People were living here from the Neolithic period 4200-3900BC through to today. The Cult of Neith brought many to settle or in pilgrimage here throughout the Pharaonic Period and it was used as a Capital City in 26th Dynasty, 664-525 BC